The Blog

Apple Delight

This dessert is a twist on the simple and relaxing macrobiotic dessert, apple kanten. Kanten is a Japanese term for agar agar and can be thought of as vegan gelatin. Traditionally made by freezing and drying extracts of various sea vegetables, agar agar comes in three forms: flakes, powder and bars. This recipe uses agar flakes, which helps make the dessert light and delicate.

Kuzu is a starch added as a thickener to create a pudding-like consistency. You can use it like cornstarch but kuzu is more beneficial to health as it has healing properties and helps with digestion.

The texture of this dessert is surprisingly smooth and rich, considering the fact that it contains no soy or nuts. It’s the little bit of tahini that gives a nice richness. I can’t wait to make this with apples that I picked myself at local orchards this fall!

To make the apple pudding: Place the apple juice, agar flakes and pinches of salt in a pot and put it on medium high flame to a boil. Simmer for 10 minutes until the flakes dissolve.

Add the apples and cook until soft (about 5 minutes).

Place the contents in a blender along with tahini and rice syrup. Blend until smooth. (Make sure you only fill 2/3 of the blender since pressure may build up because of the hot liquid.)

Return to pot on medium high flame, and when it comes to boil, add kuzu dissolved in apple juice and stir until it thickens. Pour it into parfait glasses. Chill to set.

To make the apple topping: In a small pot, place apple juice, a pinch of salt and agar flakes. Cook until the flakes dissolve completely. Add diced apples and cook lightly.

Place a scoop of the topping on the apple pudding. Garnish with mint leaves and cinnamon sticks.

My first cookbook, THE PEACEFUL DESSERT BOOK, features many more all natural, vegan desserts that contain no refined sugar. Look for tips on how to make beautiful apple roses as seen in the photo below!

Yukiko Sato is a foodie specializing in vegan and macrobiotic foods. Interested in the relationship between health and food, she created the Berkshire Vegan blog in which she shares her many delicious creations. She is also the author of The Peaceful Dessert Book.